The Journal of Australian Ceramics

It’s been a year of small but steady advances for our association. Our membership numbers are increasing. The members’ insurance scheme has worked out well, attracting new members to The Australian Ceramics Association and providing a real and affordable benefit to participating members. Our new online shop is a success, and ordering online is a breeze. Changing online service providers was a bit tricky in places but now most has been settled and we are going smoothly on our way.

Changing our office location was another challenge. Vicki cleverly took advantage of the oldest form of human communication, the bush telegraph, and managed to locate an office space nearby with all the features required.

Our stall at ClayEdge, Gulgong, in April 2007, was another success. We sold many copies of the Journal of Australian Ceramics and acquired new members. It was a good opportunity to tell people about our new insurance scheme but most importantly, we had a presence at a popular event that draws ceramicists from all over Australia.

A highlight for the year was The ACA Biennial Exhibition: Celebration 2007, which was held at Manly Art Gallery in August 2007. Prue Venables, the curator, is to be congratulated for bringing together a satisfying show, amply demonstrating the high achievements of which Australian ceramics is capable. We thank Prue for all her work and of course, Manly Art Gallery. We look forward to our next exhibition at Manly, which will be tied in with the Australian Ceramics Triennale: NSW09 in Sydney, 2009, a very exciting occasion.

On 14 August, a farewell party was held at Mura Clay Gallery in Newtown for Irene Schroder. Irene has made a significant contribution to Australian ceramics, especially in NSW, with her wholehearted commitment to showcasing new talent and her ongoing support for established artists. She leaves to spend more time with her family and devote herself more fully to her own path as an artist. We wish both Irene and Hardie the very best for the future.

Our best wishes go to Kerrie Lowe who has taken over the space, renaming it the Kerrie Lowe Gallery.

This week, The ACA has launched the Visiting Ceramic Artists Schedule, an initiative that as a national body we are uniquely placed to implement. (See more below).

On behalf of The ACA, I would like to thank Vicki, our editor, Dennis Woollam our auditor, and all the members of the committee for your work, your ideas and your active commitment. Thanks also to George in the office for his invaluable help. I’d also like to thank all those who have volunteered to help out, turning up to “bag the mag”, giving their support to the association in so many ways. It’s greatly appreciated.

Thank you. Karen Weiss

The TACA committee for 2007 / 2008 is:
President – Julie Bartholomew
Vice President – Karen Weiss
Auditor – Dennis Woollam
Treasurer – Gaye Collett
Newsletter Editor – Fran Smith

Minutes Secretary – Heather Fisher
Corresp.  Secretary – Anne Cudworth
Education Liaison – Trisha Dean
Exhibition Liaison – Barbara Campbell-Allen
Event Workshop Co-ordinator – Ellin Pooley

General Committee
Marion McLaren
Judy Boydell

We welcome these new members

Meera Agar, Helen Leete, Katherine Mahoney, Christina MacQuarrie, Lynda Kent, Suzanne Kaldor, Ruth Andell, Julia Franz, Ondine Richards, Robyn Porritt, Karen Bell, Sue James, Margaret Hall, Anne-Marie Hayes, Peter Battaglene, Margaret Brown, Ben Richardson, Ursula Dutkiewicz, Kay Dowman, Laura Lyubomirsky, Fran Geale, Dee Taylor-Graham, Sophie Legoe, Jane Barrow, John and Valerie Kidston and Anthony and Judy Trembath.